Working With Horween Chromexcel

[LTC]

You could make some dog collars with the stuff. I use it as the outside of the collar and line it with veg tan on the inside. Makes one of the softest collars around.

Steve

how'd you burnish the chromexcel? looks good. people have repeatedly told me it can't be burnished without that overpriced soldering iron, but it doesn't look like you used that so i'm curious if you could tell us how you did it, please...

[DavidL]

You could make some dog collars with the stuff. I use it as the outside of the collar and line it with veg tan on the inside. Makes one of the softest collars around.

Steve

If that is saddle stitched you have a very steady hand. Looks nice.

How did you get the inside vegtan to sit so flush on the edges?

I also want to learn how to burnish the edges.

A quick rub on the wood burnishing stick did nothing for me.

how'd you burnish the chromexcel? looks good. people have repeatedly told me it can't be burnished without that overpriced soldering iron, but it doesn't look like you used that so i'm curious if you could tell us how you did it, please...

A cheap soldering iron from home depot and a tip attachment for a few dollars on ebay can act the same as the expensive iron.

Edited May 9, 2014 by DavidL

[LTC]

A cheap soldering iron from home depot and a tip attachment for a few dollars on ebay can act the same as the expensive iron.

i've read otherwise on here...

[LeatherWerks]

Sorry folks, I wish I could saddle stitch like that but I did this on a Cobra 4 machine. As to the edge, I used the 'Bob Parks' method. After sanding and edging, I rubbed glycerin soap into the edge followed by some regular saddle soap. Bob suggests the yellow saddle soap but it tends to discolor the white thread. I rub the edge with canvas until I get a smooth edge. I then dye the edge.

The result is a decent edge but I don't think you'll ever get the edge you can achieve with veg tanned leather.

David L ask how I got the two layers of leather to sit flush. I cut the veg tanned strip wider than the chromexcel strip, glue the two pieces together and when set, use my round knife to cut the two edges flush. I then sew the layers together using an edge guide.

I've never tried the soldering iron method but I understand this method works very well.

Steve

[Nuttish]

CXL would make a crummy strop. A piece of paper on a piece of glass would be better. It's also so greasy and waxy that it will eventually mark pieces in your stitching horse jaws.

In my experience, CXL sides are wildly inconsistent from section to section. The bend closer to the shoulders is far less stretchy than other pieces. It also seems to me that the little flaps and belly side are only useful for silly little novelty accessories and stuff.

Remarkably, stretchiness also seems to depend on the color, and maybe even the lot. My burgundy and dark brown are thinner and far less stretchy across the entire side than what they call tan.

If you got pieces someone else chose for you, I reckon they chose crummy pieces. CXL is just fine for making small leather goods, albeit it with somewhat time consuming paring and edge finishing, but the attractive pullup and what bearded hipsters who fetishize "carry goods" and wear $350 jeans want makes it worth it.